10/28/2019
In this rousing yet uneven fictionalized retelling of events surrounding Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution, Miller (Snowdrops ), culture editor for the Economist , draws on his experience working in the region to tease out the political, civilian, and diplomatic tensions behind the mass protests. Chapters set in 2004 follow the protests, political plays, and governmental scrambling leading up to Ukraine Supreme Court’s ruling that the country’s 2004 presidential election was invalid and the court’s call for a new vote. British diplomat Simon Davey was ousted after an attempt to calm relations between protesters and government-backed political groups failed as a result of him being accused of having an affair with his Russian contact. In 2017, threads start to unravel for Davey after he sees Oleysa Zarchenko, a Ukrainian protestor and his former contact, on the London subway. He follows her and questions her about her role in the protests and the Ukrainian government’s response to the protests. As his perception changes, he begins to see how the power levers were being pulled 12 years ago, and reveals himself to be a somewhat obtuse, selfish, and idealistic bureaucrat who must come to terms with his culpability in governmental manipulation. Readers who can look past the underdeveloped characters will enjoy Miller’s vivid portrayal of political intrigue. (Feb.)
"An intriguing situation, and Miller develops it with verve and elegance. Whether he is capturing the churning crowds in Kiev or the sleepier rhythms of London in August, he always has interesting insights to offer."
"A tremendous novel — taut, compelling, reeking of authenticity. A.D. Miller writes with exemplary precision and sophistication. Independence Square is an unsparing examination of human beings caught up and destroyed by historical forces they can barely comprehend."
"At its best, Independence Square made me think of a 21st-century Graham Greene novel, an absorbing thriller informed by emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of geopolitics."
The Guardian (UK) Marcel Theroux
Readers with a keen interest in political fiction will find much to savor in the complex machinations Miller expertly creates.
"Mesmerizing. Miller’s novel is both a nuanced character study and a fascinating look at the complexities of Russian society."
Booklist (starred review) (Praise for Snowdrops)
Miller’s gripping novel, about truth, lies and power is a searing indictment of our times. A book about dirty money and the manipulation of politics, about a world where anything is possible and where even a war can be ‘hallucinated into reality’. And it is about power. . . . This, then, is a story not about a revolution in Eastern Europe but about the way we live now.
AD Miller has woven an intriguing, evocative tale of betrayal, revolution and heartbreak. In subtle, sinuous prose, he shows us a man haunted by a fateful mistake - and shows us how even the most noble political moments turn on dark secrets and human frailties. After his magnificent debut, Snowdrops , expectations were high for AD Miller: with Independence Square he delivers handsomely.
"I loved this beautiful novel. It's a supremely timely story of deeply-rooted corruption, but also of idealism and longing for freedom. Very powerful and profoundly moving."
Miller conveys a rich understanding of the calculus of protest. Beneath the simplistic summaries on the mainstream news, Miller spins the chaotic exuberance of the scene. The novel’s greater tragedy extends out to the world Davey once thought he could guide toward nobility and fairness."
The Washington Post - Ron Charles
"A.D. Miller recreates the heady days of the Orange Revolution in evocative detail. As Davey gradually unpicks his past, unexpected shifts in perspective add depth and tension."
"The novel’s motor is the reader’s hunger to find out how Davey’s life, once so gilded, could crash so badly. [A] fine new novel...[Miller’s] story lingers long after the last page.
"Miller conjures up characters who say much more than the words they use. This is a skilled, moving, and saddening account of the waste of human potential and the brutality that often comes with the acquisition and retention of colossal amounts of money."
A captivating study of corruption, betrayal and the abuse of power. This time, however, the novel follows a protagonist who has already fallen from grace and is on a personal mission to find out where he went wrong. Like all good political thrillers, “Independence Square” is intricately structured and thick with intrigue and suspense. The narrative unfolds elliptically, alternating between Kiev in the past and London in the present, and flitting between perspectives. Only at the end, after piecing together each segment of the story, does the reader get the full devastating picture. It is hard to fault what is a vivid and highly charged tale of misplaced trust and tarnished dreams.
"An assured debut. Miller memorably captures the city’s atmosphere during the glitzy, anything-goes era that succeeded Soviet Communism. Miller’s uncluttered prose and feel for the city’s Wild West atmosphere are pleasures."
The Seattle Times (Praise for Snowdrops)
"Utterly gripping, a novel with its finger on the pulse of geopolitics that still manages to move deeply."
*Books to Look Our For in 2020* Observer
"Mesmerizing. Miller’s novel is both a nuanced character study and a fascinating look at the complexities of Russian society."
Booklist (Praise for Snowdrops)
Miller’s gripping novel, about truth, lies and power is a searing indictment of our times...a book about dirty money and the manipulation of politics, about a world where anything is possible and where even a war can be ‘hallucinated into reality’. And it is about power... This, then, is a story not about a revolution in Eastern Europe but about the way we live now.
Miller conveys a rich understanding of the calculus of protest. Beneath the simplistic summaries on the mainstream news, Miller spins the chaotic exuberance of the scene. The novel’s greater tragedy extends out to the world Davey once thought he could guide toward nobility and fairness.
Ron Charles - The Washington Post
A.D. Miller recreates the heady days of the Orange Revolution in evocative detail. As Davey gradually unpicks his past, unexpected shifts in perspective add depth and tension.
Subtle rather than strident, and imbued with a bruised beauty. Miller is masterful at capturing small details.
The Independent (Praise for Snowdrops)
Like Graham Greene on steroids. Tightly written, complex, and gripping.
The Daily Mail (Praise for Snowdrops)
Elegant. A superlative portrait of a country in which everything has its price. Displays a worldly confidence reminiscent of Robert Harris at his best.
The Financial Times (Praise for Snowdrops)
Compelling. Miller shines in his depiction of Russian life. He makes you see and feel the glitz, squalor, and violence of Moscow.
The Boston Globe (Praise for Snowdrops)
Readers with a keen interest in political fiction will find much to savor in the complex machinations Miller expertly creates.
Listeners who enjoy complex espionage stories like those of le Carré, will want to hear Tim Campbell narrate this taut political thriller.” —AudioFile Magazine
